“Oh.” My eyes widen, heat creeping up my neck as I quickly shake my head. “No, I wasn’t thinking that?—”
A smile creeps across Posey’s lips. “Girl, your face gave it all away. It’s okay, your secret is safe with me.”
Lucy slides over onto the bar stool next to where I’m standing. “What’s the secret? I love secrets.”
“Get out of here, Luce.” Posey waves her hand at her dismissively. “It was a joke,” Posey winks at me and relief washes over me.
“Whatever,” Lucy sighs, rolling her eyes. She turns to me. “I’m so excited to meet you, Jade. You’re the first girl Matteo has ever brought around anyone.”
Theo walks over, gripping the back of Lucy’s chair as he stops behind her. “Lucy doesn’t get out much,” he chuckles, looking down at her. “She’s not as civilized as the rest of us.”
She tips her head back, the crown of her head pressing against his abdomen as she looks at him upside down. “That’s not true.”
“Lucy’s finishing an accelerated master’s program to be an athletic trainer.” Theo glances at me with his eyebrows raised. “I promise you; she does not get out much.”
Lucy straightens herself, cutting her eyes at him over her shoulder. “Go away, Theodore.”
Theo laughs, taking a step away. “It’s nice to meet you, Jade.”
“You too.” I smile and nod. Theo joins Cross, Shaw, and Matteo who are congregated around the air hockey table. I look at Lucy. “Are you and Theo together?”
She lets out a laugh that sounds off key as she shakes her head. “My god, no. Theo and I have been best friends our entire lives.”
Posey chuckles softly from the other side of the bar. “So, Jade. We’ve heard a little bit about you, but Matty’s been keeping his cards close to his chest. How did you guys meet?”
“At a coffee shop,” I laugh, my mind drifting back to that day. I don’t want to overshare, since Matteo’s decided to keep our meeting to himself. “I accidentally got his drink, and he got mine.”
“Shut up, that’s the cutest thing ever,” Lucy swoons.
Bella and Elena come over. “What’d we miss?” Elena chimes in.
“Jade was telling us how she and Matteo met,” Posey explains to the two of them as Elena sits down next to Lucy and Bella stands at the end of the bar.
“His drinks are so gross,” Elena says, curling her lip up in disgust. “There’s no hint of coffee left after he’s done.”
“They’re like dessert drinks,” I laugh.
Bella shrugs her shoulders. “I don’t think they’re bad.”
“Because your sense of taste sucks, just like his.”
Bella and Elena start bickering about coffee drinks. Lucy looks bored and pulls out her phone as Posey stands there, chin propped on her hand as she listens to the two of them with an animated expression.
“Sunny,” Matteo calls out to me, pulling my attention from the girls. I turn around and see him standing by the pool table. “Can I borrow you?”
“Excuse me,” I say to no one in particular, holding onto my water bottle as I walk over to Matteo. There’s so many new faces, so many people here I don’t know, it’s a bit overwhelming.
He lets out a soft sigh when I reach him, a ghost of a smile dancing across his lips. “Hi.”
“Hi,” I breathe, relief washing over me. Something about being near him provides a layer of comfort. Familiarity.Safety. “Did you figure out the air hockey table?”
Matteo shakes his head. “I think it’s done.” He tilts his head to the side. “Sorry for abandoning you.”
“No, it’s okay. Everyone seems so nice.” I roll my lips between my teeth, biting down before releasing them. “They said I’m the first girl you’ve ever brought to meet any of them.”
Matteo stares at me, his throat bobbing. “Yeah,” he says softly, his chin dipping. “I’ve never wanted them to meet anyone else before. No one else ever felt important enough for that.”
My heart stumbles inside my chest. “Are you saying I’m important?”
